Director, Group Retirement & Savings

Description

First Canadian is a national organization and we are experiencing unprecedented growth!

Job Details

First Canadian is a national organization and we are experiencing unprecedented growth! We aim to hire bright, hard‑working people who share our values. We seek employees who are committed to learning, career growth, and opportunity. We take pride in being an organization that our employees support long‑term. We believe in our employees and celebrate their success by asking for employee opinions and feedback so that we continue to be a Great Place to Work.

Benefits

• Off work 1 hour early on Fridays.
• Earned Time‑Off Program and vacation.
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match.
• On‑site gym.
• Educational assistance and career development.
• Employee benefits.
• Health and Wellness spending account.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee discount programs.
• A Culture Team dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and employee programs.
• Employee recognition and appreciation events.

Check out our company page for all the information on why we believe First Canadian is an employer of choice! If you are motivated to succeed by helping people, then this is the opportunity for you! The Director, Group Retirement & Savings reporting to the Head of Group Benefits is based out of the LeMarchand Mansion in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. The Director will lead the design of a new business line, overseeing product development, technology platform development, and operational infrastructure. This role is responsible for establishing strategic partnerships, vendor relationships, creating distribution channels, and ensuring full regulatory and licensing compliance. The Director will drive the strategy and execution needed to deliver innovative group retirement and savings solutions while building a scalable, compliant, and customer‑focused operation. The annual compensation range for this role will be from $150,000‑$200,000.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the strategic roadmap for the Group Retirement & Savings business line.
• Build the business model, operating framework, and go‑to‑market strategy for sustainable growth.

Product Development & Technology

• Lead the design, development, and launch of innovative group retirement and savings products.
• Oversee the development and implementation of enabling technology platforms (administration, reporting, client interfaces).
• Work with business analysis and software development team to develop new administration technology.
• Ensure digital solutions are modern, secure, flexible, client‑centric, and integrate seamlessly with existing systems and business processes.

Partnerships & Vendor Management

• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with strategic partners, recordkeepers, custodians, and vendors.
• Establish strong governance frameworks to manage vendor and partner relationships and ensure accountability.
• Drive continuous improvement in partner performance and alignment with corporate objectives.

Operations & Distribution

• Build and lead a high‑performing operations team to support administration, reporting, and customer service.
• Attend client meetings for new business development and account management where required.
• Establish national distribution channels.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure all products, operations, and distribution models comply with applicable regulations and licensing requirements.
• Develop internal policies and risk management frameworks that align with industry best practices and regulatory standards.
• Serve as the key liaison with FCICs risk and compliance team on matters related to retirement and savings compliance.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field is considered a strong asset.
• MBA or advanced designation considered a strong asset.
• Professional designation(s) such as CFA, CFP, CEBS, or equivalent considered an asset.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in financial services, with a strong background in group retirement and savings, or investment products.
• Proven experience in product development, operations build‑out, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian regulatory environment governing group retirement and savings plans.
• Reside within the local Edmonton Area as the role is required to be in office full‑time.
• Intermediate to advanced skill with Microsoft Office (Word/Excel) is required.
• Fluent in English with proven competencies in verbal and written communication is required.
• Fluent in French with proven competencies in verbal and written communication is an asset.
• Proven ability in people management and change management to drive a high performing culture is required or an asset.
• Successful completion of a credit check, criminal background check, education verification, license and certification verification, and employment reference checks is required before employment.

Thank you for considering our organization.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. Accommodations are available upon request.